A whole host of personalities, industries and sectors come under the spotlight in the latest issue of Tees Valley Vision.

A whole host of personalities, industries and sectors come under the spotlight in the latest issue of Tees Valley Vision.

Its 44-pages are crammed with facts and figures about a wide range of companies, topics and people.

Town centres throughout the Tees Valley are keen to boost retail, commercial and leisure activity with the backing of the public and private sectors.

One way of achieving those aims is to make the heart of the likes of Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar, Darlington and Hartlepool as welcoming as possible.

A fundamental element has to be making sure people feel that town centres are places where they feel safe to shop, work and enjoy themselves.

Under the Analysis heading we take an in-depth look at the various ways the powers-that-be are working to achieve this.

We also focus attention on the work of the new-look Business Link network which has now been in existence just over a year.

The chief executive of its local arm, Malcolm Taylor, shares his opinions on subjects such as whether the Tees Valley is the right name to market the area; what needs to be done to cultivate an entrepreneurial culture and if there are too many Tees Valley business support organisations.

One of Tees Valley Vision's remits has been to get behind the sober-suited corporate image of business.

And this issue continues that theme with a profile of lawyer Margaret Simpson.

Once out of the office Margaret, who is in charge of the private client team at Dickinson Dees' Tees Valley office, pulls on a pair of wellies and literally mucks in with the rest of the family because in her spare time she works on their small holding looking after sheep and cattle.

We also track the long process behind Castle Eden Brewery's ambitions to sell its headquarters, merge with a rival and move to a new base.

Hartlepool-born Bill Sirs, now 82, who rose through the ranks to become one of the most powerful names in the UK's trade union movement, reminisces about his industry's turbulent past as well as praising 'the magnificent traditions of Teesside steel making'.

He also makes a plea for continued investment in 'this crown jewel and its efficient workers who are its lifeblood'.

On top of all this we highlight:

The process of making fire surrounds from from start to finish.

How Cleveland Fire Brigade's role extends into the community.

The fantastic support there has been from the world of business to the Evening Gazette's Community Champions awards.

A firm which has expanded its repertoire from traditional shopfitting to architectural consultancy, design and build work, project and contract management and made-to-order joinery.

A company which is behind the hi-tech success of a swathe of award-winning organisations.

A Teesside businesswoman's life Down Under.

And the new regional director of the Confederation of British Industry.